How to read short stories?

When reading short stories, evaluate whether the writer has produced a unified plot. One or two main characters work to resolve one problem or situation. Look for a beginning, middle, and an ending. The narrator’s presentation should also be unified.

Check to see who the narrator is, and what is the narrator’s point of view. Remember there are three types of points of view. There is first person (narrator knows only what he/she experiences), third person limited (narrator knows more than what a single person experiences), and third person omniscient (the narrator knows everything). Look carefully at the pronouns used in the story to give you clues about the point of view. For example, first person point of view is indicated by the use of pronouns such as I, me, or mine. Read carefully how the narrator uses them to develop the conflict.

There may be more than one level of conflict. Clues to the type of conflict are revealed through events, dialogue, and description. The conflict is centred on the main character. The character may need to deal with conflict involving.

character vs. character

character vs. self

character vs. nature

character vs. fate